Former Stonewall Deputy Chair made OBE in New Year’s Honours

Liz Grant, former Deputy Chair of Stonewall, is made an OBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honours for services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the UK workplace. Liz is one of Stonewall’s longest-serving trustees, having joined the charity’s board in 2002. She was appointed Deputy Chair in 2007, and stood down in October 2012.

Liz said: ‘I was thrilled when I was told about this honour. My single greatest privilege, though, is to work with Stonewall’s brilliant team of volunteers, staff and trustees. Their hard work and commitment are humbling, and I really do feel this award recognises their contribution to making Britain a better country for everyone.’

Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said: ‘Everyone at Stonewall is delighted for Liz, whose commitment and leadership have played a significant part in our success. The very fact that Liz’s honour recognises her contribution to gay equality shows how far we’ve come as a country, and how successful Stonewall has been in making sure people’s achievements today count for more than their sexual orientation.’

Since 2003, Stonewall has been at the forefront of securing significant legislative advances for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain. In that time the charity has launched an Education for All programme to tackle homophobic bullying in schools and colleges and has grown membership of its Diversity Champions programme for major employers to more than 600, employing ten million people worldwide between them. The charity also now campaigns for equality internationally. Annual income has risen from £1.3m in 2003 to £4m today and staff numbers from 20 to 65.

Neil Bentley, Deputy Director-General and Chief Operating Officer at the CBI, replaced Liz as Stonewall’s Deputy Chair in October. Stonewall trustees are selected through open recruitment, in line with charity best practice. They can serve a maximum of three three-year terms.